#BreakingNew — Worst Fuel Spill in 8 Years at Dilapidated Maximo Marina in St. Petersburg story and PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT NEFF
UPDATE: 11 AM. Photo gallery at the end. Coast Guard inspecting Maximo Marina. Heard comment, found boats with gas cans on the barge. Turbidity barriers (Soakers) being pulled up and down the marina's rows.
May 4, 2016 — Massive fuel spill at Maximo Marina in St. Petersburg, Florida. My #CondoSeniors called the Police, Coast Guard and National Response Team. Fuel odor and fumes being smelled at the condos along Maximo Channel. This morning also saw heavy rains and thunderstorms. Unknown if this contributed to the fuel spill. Continued rains, outgoing winds and tide pushing water toward Boca Ciega Bay. St. Pete Beach's intracoastal is on other side of Boca Ciega Bay. This is the worst fuel spill I have witnessed in 8 years. Coast Guard has arrived on the scene. Source is unknown at this time.
Chicago Investors Bixby Bridge Capital purchased Maximo Marina’s bank note in 2009. Less than a year ago, Island Global Yachting was hired to manage Maximo Marina in St. Petersburg, Florida. The marina is dilapidated and has been in need of repair for years. Two docks were renovated two years ago and renovation stopped.
Island Global Yachting is in discussions to build condos and add parking. Marina's Island Global Yachting is to meet with City Zoning Thursday but it is unknown whether this is for marina dock renovation or to build condos and parking. Island Global Yachting has been in discussions with the City Zoning on the condos
UPDATE — 10:21 AM. Coast Guard is on the scene.
UPDATE: 11 AM
This is where the locals, neighborhoods, boat captains and fisherman come to relax and swap stories. The “Shack” is also popular with Tampa Bay, visitors and snowbirds. The Shack has a reputation for the freshest fish in Tampa Bay and the best grouper sandwich and bites.
Stop in, grab a table and strike up a conversation. The limited menu features grouper, catch of the day, special, or conch fritters. Fresh seafood fillets and stone crab — When in Season — is available by the pound. Try the seafood spread.
Carryout is available for boats, cars, bikes and pedestrians. The Shack is conveniently located on the Skyway Bike Trail. Twice a year, Maximo Seafood Shack hosts a sunset social, when the sun sets directly down the channel. Great way to meet the local neighborhoods!
BIO
Robert Neff is an award winning photographer. He specializes in weather, international events, sports (Rugby, Soccer and Grand Prix), NASA, lifestyle, boats and sailing, nature, wildlife, and travel and tourism. Robert uses photography as a narrative to share his experiences.
Robert has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines. He is also a writer with a published book and articles in newspapers and journals.
ARTIST STATEMENT: Robert Neff’s contemporary art is dynamic and vibrant, and engages the senses. His photography and storytelling are the inspiration and basis for his fine art. Nature and life’s colors, tones, and shapes are transformed into mixed media art work. Design studies are used to explore geometrics, color, and patterns. As your perspective changes, so does the design. His approach changes how your vision interprets everyday experiences.
During his solo show at Art Miami’s Spectrum Miami, art lovers were drawn into his fine art work. His style drew comparisons to Vasarely and the Op Art movement. One collector from Uruguay compared his style to "Constructivism" and the great Uruguay artist, Garcia.
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